Resthaven begins development of Adelaide facility

Local and state politicians and residents of the adjoining Unity retirement village joined Resthaven to launch construction of its new facility in the Adelaide Hills.

Construction is now underway on Resthaven’s new $30 million facility in the Adelaide Hills following a recent sod-turning ceremony.

The new facility in Aberfoyle Park will accommodate 100 older people in small clusters of rooms that have their own dining and lounge rooms.

Other features include a hairdressing salon, shop, meeting rooms, internet café and secure landscaped areas with sensory gardens.

Resthaven CEO Richard Hearn said the local community would benefit from additional services for older people, volunteering and employment opportunities including 100 long-term jobs and involvement with community groups.

The facility is expected to open in the second half of 2018.

New HammondCare facility for Sydney’s homeless

An artist’s impression of the HammondCare Darlinghurst aged care home for people experiencing homelessness.

HammondCare has received local government approval to build a 42-bed residential aged care facility for older people experiencing homelessness in Sydney’s inner city.

The facility will provide accommodation in private rooms for both men and women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and incorporate specialist services for people with high care needs.

Chief executive Dr Stephen Judd said this was a significant project that would fill a major need in service provision in the Darlinghurst area.

The facility will be built on the site adjacent to St John’s Anglican Church on Darlinghurst. HammondCare has leased the site on a long-term basis from the church.

The provider hopes construction will begin soon and the facility operational by mid-2018.

HammondCare also recently announced it will open new offices in Scone, Mudgee and Broken Hill in NSW, and locations in Melbourne and Brisbane, in response to increased demand for its home care services.

Mercy facility opens onsite pub for residents and guests

The new Racecouse Inn area at Mercy Place Rice Village features a bar, billiards table, piano, dart board and beer garden.

Mercy Place Rice Village in Geelong has opened a purpose-built in-house bar with a pub-style games area for residents and their families and friends.

The new addition, which has been named the Racecourse Inn in memory of the Racecourse Hotel that once stood on the site, features a bar, billiards table, piano, dart board and beer garden.

Mercy Place Rice Village hosted an official opening ceremony of the inn last Wednesday on International Women’s Day in recognition of the Rice sisters.

In their wills, the sisters donated all of their money, the hotel and 10 acres of land to help establish a home for women in need, which became Mercy Place Rice Village.

This latest addition to the facility was funded through a $30,000 grant from the Mercy Health Foundation.

New development underway for Churches of Christ in Queensland

Churches of Christ in Qld has begun construction on a $28 million integrated seniors community on the Sunshine Coast (from left) Peter Cox, Gerry Weatherall, David Swain, and Mark McArdle.

Churches of Christ in Queensland has begun construction on the $28 million first stage of an integrated seniors community on the Sunshine Coast.

The development at Meridan in Caloundra’s west will include residential and home care services and a community hub featuring a multi-purpose community centre, cafe, hairdressing salon and auditorium.

The residential aged care accommodation will feature a series of themed cottage-style one and two storey buildings.

Acting CEO David Swain said the development’s first stage was major investment in progressing innovative seniors care for the region.

“The aged care service will provide the best in care to enable local seniors to age in place with no need to move from their community if their care needs change,” Mr Swain said.